Top 9 Track Cycling Innovations | From Barcelona to Tokyo

[@gcntech]

Should the Olympians all have the same kit? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@ScottyWoodworker]

Yes they should so that it comes down to the athlete and not what the budget can buy.

[@forlmao9591]

I think yes but different variants - e.g. small flag or colour strip

[@leonardogomescardoso]

Only in some races….but it shoud have an anything possible race.

[@yoyo510]

I'm in favor of this for as long as not everyone is truly on board with having their equipment commercially available.

[@jg6845]

Yes. It should be soley about the athlete's ability.

[@MrKin92]

Cant wait to see Awang using the WXR to sprint for Gold in the Keirin match!

[@baxteroh1822]

Malaysian here 🤣🤣

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

Keirin bikes are standardized though so starting on a WXR would mean instant disqualification.

[@MrKin92]

@@gustavmeyrink_2.0 hi! Keirin in Olympic doesn't adopt this rule. Only the underground gambling in Japan/Korea does limit the bike.

[@brodaddy8778]

WXR like black ferrari..Malaysia will win this time.. Come on Awang!

[@Notoriez]

@@brodaddy8778 hopefully. he'll just got through 2 rounds of repecharge today

[@chrisridesbicycles]

As the video is completely GB centred, I have to add in the FES bikes of team Germany. These and LeMond winning the '89 TdF on tribars is one of things that got me (and I think many other kids of generation Space Shuttle) into cycling and cycling tech.

[@mcnutty26]

LeMond wasn't at the Olympics!

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@mcnutty26 Of course. Added the missing TdF.

[@RV-jq5pb]

They mentioned the malaysian sprinter.

[@jimjr4432]

Well these guys are limeys.Cheers

[@matth2775]

You mean the bikes of the German team that have only won 2 Olympic Golds in the last decade? Yes they have really radically changed track cycling 🤣

[@syakiryaqzan7258]

Lets Go Azizul Hasni Awang!!! Rocket pocket man! Malaysia Boleh! Lets go Gold!!!

[@PKownzthem]

The way it says WX-R in huge letters on the vorteq is too hilarious to us germans Equivalent in english would be if this thing was called WNK-R or something

[@JamesHuxford]

Careful or the UCI will ban the GCN Tech show

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

15:45 Yeah that bike really helped! The defending GB women's pursuit team got nearly caught by Germany riding much more standard bikes while knocking seconds off the world record. But hey may be it will help the men's pursuit team beat Switzerland to 7th place!

[@Jalfred92]

Is the 108 still the most aero track bike? Or have modern advances worked around UCI limitations to catch up?

[@gcntech]

That would be an interesting video. 🤔

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

No the cervelo track bikes and other modern designs were supposed to be faster and much stiffer.

[@Mattsretiring]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV faster and stiffer aren't exactly the same thing as being more aero. A rider without a skin suit, a flapping number and poorly designed helmet will be way less aero on the Lotus than a rider on the latest bike. The package makes the speed Tyre technology, chain, components and rider apparel are all way more advanced than the Lotus days

[@coreygolphenee9633]

@@Mattsretiring yes but the inherent advantage of a shape you can't use plus the modern equipment would make for an interesting discussion

[@notlessgrossman163]

UCI should select a model/specifications periodically and provide them to qualified national teams. It's the athletic ability that should win medals not money.

[@rob-c.]

This would completely change professional sport. Other than the Kierin racing mentioned (and that might only stipulate the bike they must use, not the other equipment?) are there any sports anywhere that don’t vary in some way on money available to an individual?

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Don't the rowers do something like this?

[@notlessgrossman163]

@@cyclingnerddelux698 Exactly

[@bob-ny6kn]

@@cyclingnerddelux698 *those 'oars.

[@htdtr]

@@rob-c. I think it's in some sailing categories too. I guess some of the sports that dont have much equipment must be fairly equal too.

[@RazzFazz-Race]

Maybe you should exchange the Lotus Team GB Bike with the bike from the German Women Pursuit Team who improves the worldrecord from 4:10 to 4:04 At Tokyo Olympic Games…

[@ramiroguerrero6331]

Cycling is about equipment, the human factor is about how one performs on that particular time, equipment must move forward and this is the best forum

[@andyturner1502]

Maybe they should be one advent in the Olympics where they all have to be on the same equipment. The winner would have the “it was all me” bragging rights

[@matthiaswuest7271]

It would be cool to see the kieren in the style they regulate in Japanese racing, kind of like what Ollie was referencing 👍🏼

[@vfnt]

I think in sailing they have to use the same boats and for rowing on that level you basically can only see 2 different boat manufacturers (Empacher, Filippi) and 2 oar manufacturers (Concept2, Crocker).

[@davidd1492]

That is exactly what it should be. Down to the riders ability, not which team can design some 25 -30 k bike that no one else is able to buy.

[@vfnt]

@@davidd1492 I really dislike that companies make their pro equipment unavailable for regular people by either claiming they‘re out of stock when they clearly provide riders with stuff or making it unbelievable expensive. In my opinion everyone should be able to use whatever they want. That’s the case in rowing. You can just go out an buy the equipment you want (excluding paint jobs, custom crew kits). The only thing I can think of is the oar power meter. Professionals use it maybe 4 times a year and basically everything is measured by 500m split times. Saw them once, never felt the urge to set up and use them. Unless you’re getting paid for it, it’s not worth trying them

[@davidsullivan7290]

How do you leave out Felt’s TA/FRD bike has a left-side drivetrain? More aero because all turns are left and the bike leans in a bit and has less wind on that side.

[@jeskli11]

Although it hasn't been used in the Olympics (yet) I would put on the list also the POC helmet Team Denmark had used in last year's team pursuit world championships.

[@1dree1]

8:42 is it possible that Wiggins suffers from hallux valgus? doesn't look so good for me

[@crusherbmx]

The crazy tech race started at the 1984 Olympics, disk wheels, small front wheels, blood doping.....I was hooked

[@wilkinsontsamuel]

Let's have all olympians on the same bike, but have a design contest for the bike to be used. Keeps the arms race alive between manufacturers (and @GCN Tech in business) but would level the playing field

[@MistressBlah]

If Olympians aren't all going to have the same bikes, then it should be required that all bikes be homologated, sold in mass quantities, and must be available for 2+ years BEFORE the Olympics, and have a MAXIMUM sale price of somewhere around the $2000-3000 mark, including the wheels.

[@horsiesarepretty]

When Ollie started talking about hot pants and reached down for his glasses I thought he was reaching down to rip his trousers off to demonstrate "hot pants." I felt relieved yet somewhat disappointed when he pulled up a pair of glasses instead.

[@massimofi]

I really wanted to see the Lotus Hope so I subscribed to GCN+ but I can't see the video in there. Has it been released already?

[@glenncatchpole]

Is it just me or do these tech videos seem more and more like advertisements for a select few British brands who make up GCNs back pocket? There are a few dozen other more interesting new technologies that will be ridden at Tokyo2020 that haven't previously been highlighted as independent paid stories through GCN that seem to have gone un noted.

[@iMadrid11]

It’s not just you. Native Advertising is how most publications make their money.

[@sgroadie6367]

It is…GCNIs a commercial site…no interesting content is hidden behind the GCN+ paywall…and then when you get there, it’s still advertising.

[@hisdadjames4876]

I enjoy a laugh at UCIs expense, but I also enjoy the fact that my own reasonably priced bike is very similar to the ones the pros ride. The detailed rules may seem ludicrous, but the strategy is a noble one imo.

[@AmirulEhsan]

WX-R vs Lotus that interest me the most

[@joelward4815]

Haha WRX V Lotus?

[@motombocolombo]

Welcome to another edition of the British Cycling Network😉 Seriously, it seems like almost only Great Britain comes up with innovations in the field of track cycling.

[@Alan_Hans__]

They did go 72 years with an Olympic gold. Obviously they were huge innovators ;)

[@polymerbikes]

This video was super fricken cool

[@oliparish7225]

Awesome show as always but when is the Hope-Lotus doc coming to GCN+??…

[@itarry4]

The UCI love banning things they're kind of like the fun police. We at GCN think that Olympics cycling should only use the same tech every year so it's all about the riders.... Er.....

[@matteodiluce9387]

Well, if the UCI really allowed innovation, they'd all ride recumbent bikes or velomobiles anyway. 😁

[@zohafiz1575]

Azizul Awang- The pocket rocketman 🚀

[@diederik7645]

Felt bikes with the drive train on the other side is worth a mention on this list ;)

[@petersauer94]

The return of Jon Canning..Yes 👍

[@suedfrucht44]

What about FES?

[@t00thygr1n]

Felt left drive bike, too.

[@jaimedebrum8557]

Have you seen the evolution of the Japanese keirin bikes over the years? No? Does anyone else think it is a good idea to put everyone in the same bike?

[@fastestmilkman3840]

When is the Hope vs cervelo film out??

[@realalbertan]

The Argon 18 bikes seemed to do well in Tokyo

[@diegomora9202]

Is the documentary on GCN+? I’m not seeing it yet

[@gcntech]

It's not available just yet but it will be soon!

[@andyturner1502]

That make sense to why I couldn’t find it🤔😆

[@florianh.6981]

FES is missing here for sure

[@levbobrov1398]

I bet Germany's Pursuit Team (W) would agree. What a machine!

[@rogierklaver8388]

More and more annoyed by the GB focus of GCN. Or did i misunderstand what the G in GCN stands for?

[@AmirulEhsan]

They are from UK of course there'll be some biased

[@benmyers534]

Are you dumb there is GCN Japan, Italy etc. This is the British version of course they are going to be focusing on GB.

[@GCNuser123]

Team GB have dominated track cycling since 2008.

[@tommyrq180]

@@GCNuser123 …HAS dominated. Use proper English, mate!

[@rogierklaver8388]

@@benmyers534 Thank you for your polite response. Indeed there is GCN Italy, GCN Japan, etc. But this channel is called G(lobal)CN, not GCN UK. Therefore one can expect that it is internationally oriented to include also those countries/languages not covered by the other GCNs. Have a nice day

[@gemmumma8354]

Flat out - yes!

[@michaelcarmody2095]

I agree. Athletic competition should be about the athletes' ability and not about who can afford the best equipment. There is no reason new bikes with improved tech can't be used every for years as long as all athletes have the same bike.

[@rickomeulstee8854]

why not the Koga bike from the dutch squad?

[@bob-ny6kn]

Top ten of the nine innovations.

[@a.cyclist]

Never mind the checking the performance against a recent track back in the arms race, my question is how would the Lotus 108 with it's no-UCI rules compare to the Hope-Lotus HPT UCI-pleasing frame?

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

On the surface like this: Lotus 108 Poetry in Motion; Hope-Lotus Ugly as Sin.

[@rikibike1938]

Hello guys. Do you happen to know Italy's TTT gear ratio that propelled the team to Olympic Gold? More power to you all.

[@jimjr4432]

OK, I need help understanding. I believe you said that the mavic spokes had an airfoil shape, the front being wider than the tail. My understanding is that the wheel goes round, so at some point in the rotation, the trailing edge becomes the leading edge. So what, again, are the benefits of the airfoil spokes? Thanks so much.

[@Mattsretiring]

At the top of the spin it is doing TWICE the speed of whatever the forward momentum is. At the bottom (next to the track) it is reversed. The aero shape is therefore important at the top. The overall shape of the wheel is also important in cross wind stability which isn't an issue on the track. So the fastest track wheel isn't necessarily going to be the fastest on the road

[@perryvath7617]

The bottom of a wheel isn’t moving at all; otherwise there would be no traction.

[@jonathanzappala]

There are two kinds wheel of drag, translational (hope I have the right word) into the wind, and rotational. If you spin a wheel with low resistance bearings in a stand it slows down because it has rotational drag rotating through the air. A disc wheel will spin for ages because it’s rotational drag is very low compared to a spoked wheel.

[@secretagent86]

that was one of, if the the best, video that GCN has produced. I am really torn between Kerian type specifications and innovation. However i will lean towards innovation. With one blended idea:.. have two world record categories: a titanium classic style like eddy merckx used in the world hour record, and an open era category...NO BANS BY UCI. All hail Graeme Obree. As far as olympics go, get rid of this bloated disaster forever.

[@TboyD871]

Hope did the frame and wheels

[@SLJeans]

You've been referencing a video of you guys trying the Hope-Lotus bike for a few episodes now; Where is the video, or when will it be released? I want to see Manon get on and wipe the velodrome with the rest of you! :D

[@onnomeeuwis4001]

Yes it's a shame they didn't release it yet, even though the track races are already going on

[@secretagent86]

omg, great idea... she is a killer

[@hisdadjames4876]

Ollie, is that a cap or a black hair net youre wearing?🤔

[@AmaroqStarwind]

6:52 Indycar teams: "Write that down, write that down!" (Because Indycars don't have power steering)

[@MrAusterror]

Bleeding edge tech development ultimately benefits the consumer. It may not be the fair for competition at the Olympics, but it allows us to buy it at the bike shop.

[@naikshibabrat]

@11:27 Ollie, it's finite element analysis, not elemental, can't have a fellow Ph.D. mispronounce a method of computational solid mechanics

[@timcoggins1445]

I'm a GCN+ subscriber and and I can't see the "Quantum Leap Hope Lotus" documentary. Is it out yet?

[@paulkeleher7968]

i cant see it either, and it was meintioned a few times last week as well

[@JonCannings]

Part 1 is out tomorrow

[@JonCannings]

@@paulkeleher7968 Part 1 is out tomorrow

[@paulkeleher7968]

@@JonCannings cheers!!

[@timcoggins1445]

@@JonCannings thanks!

[@kamucho]

What happens when all the currently understood margins have been pushed to their limits within the rules? Are there any examples of other sports that have had arrived at this point?

[@kamucho]

...I guess in a sport like cycling where the winning margins can be so slender maybe the gains only ever have to be marginal...

[@veganpotterthevegan]

I think they were getting there with cycling. Then disc brakes came along and the UCI changed rules on frame shapes. I think there's a good 15yrs of improvements until the rules change again.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@Mark Brim Marginal is a self defined term. Some new bikes+wheels are over 30 seconds faster in a 40k than their predecessors. I think that's an extremely sizeable improvement but some may call that marginal.

[@maxim-fit]

Can you guys arrange a battle of the Lotus'? Would love to see the 108 against the Lotus Hope.. 👀

[@suzanbrown1493]

Of course it kooks like major innovations between Olympics, they are 4 years apart and every year manufacturers come up with something. Also, while I'm wining the Ducati was not the innovative design you suggested, many motorcycle manufacturers used it 50 years before Ducati

[@kohpj7770]

Hi from Malaysia

[@teuast]

Would it be entirely unreasonable to have restricted-tech and open-tech divisions, like a Madison where everyone's on the same bike and another Madison where they can pick their bikes? Or specific events that require all the same bike, while others don't, like Keirin sticking with all the same bike but Madison allowing choice? I don't see why we have to limit ourselves to just one or the other. Both paradigms have pros and cons, so I don't see why we couldn't have a mix.

[@Neil_down_south]

Let's do a video comparing speed of past and present bikes, including the 108 and Obree's "beast" (did it have a name!?)

[@matteodiluce9387]

He called it Old Faithful, IIRC.

[@chuckgliderable]

Ollie, you made my day! Great vid: engaging, comic timing 😭, and I learned stuff!

[@giuseppebuscemi179]

I'm still scared of what happened to the Australian rider's handlebar this morning

[@amirsyahirzaidi]

proud to be malaysian 💖

[@mupjedingemans3035]

The front fork is stolen right? Uk team being sued by Dutch company for IP theft.

[@_shreyash_anand]

So this video is basically how much more money Britain has to spend on its track cycling team than everybody else

[@KcarlMarXs]

What happened to the audio. Did you mess up the mic

[@suhdud4646]

I was actually curious if the track bikes needed to meet NJS standards or UCI for the Olympics.

[@TheHaitian]

So basically, third world nations will never be able to compete as it seems you'd need the whole country's budget just to make them be able to compete on that level. On the plus side, it does make bike technology improve and be better, lighter, stronger. Double edge sword here. I'm sure the "no fun police" could create a rule to even the playing field but I don't expect to be alive to see that happening.

[@AmirulEhsan]

Malaysia is a 3rd world countries right?

[@TheHaitian]

@@AmirulEhsan the country that owns Petronas and sponsors Formula 1. Arguably the most expensive sport in the world. Please tell me you're being sarcastic?

[@Mattsretiring]

It has a far higher GDP than RUSSIA Something to think about next time you read some propaganda about how Russia is such a draconian threat to everything.

[@AmaroqStarwind]

2:19 Or the FIA in Formula 1.

[@luisdpes]

The bicycle was probably available, you were just hitting the wrong key to refresh! 😜

[@davidburgess741]

When in Tokyo, ride a JIS certified track bike.

[@richardharris8538]

Ollie, it's finite element analysis, not elemental. But I guess we can forgive you, as you're an alchemist, eh.

[@julesgdb]

Could someone please explain to me how country's are putting loads of money in aero development but then at the start of an Olympic event the athletes wear necklaces. Years of marginal gain development and the athlete thinks the necklaces is alright. I'm bamboezeld...

[@vdiffdave]

Track cyclists should take inspiration from the bonsai kitten craze of the late 90s to grow their thigh muscles inside aero shaped moulds to knock a couple of reynolds digits off of their legs.

[@log_it8282]

Maybe not so fast but they seem to crash quite well those Hope bikes :)

[@sionjones1675]

It seems like the track and road cycling world needs to start standing up to the UCI and their crazy banhammers. I don't think they have anywhere near the same kind of grip over mountain biking

[@Tytus01UNIT]

I am really surprised that they don't use the same model of the bike. PS. Is it the only Olympic sport that has a difference in gear that matters? I know there are different brands of shoes or clothing etc. But I'm talking about something that can really create a gap in gear and performance.

[@9w2psxmrkosnan]

Today Dato Azizul Awang event in sprint

[@maxim-fit]

It's a bit like the F1 argument isn't it. I love seeing the technology race and I think it's a big part of track cycling, but having a budget cap so smaller countries/teams aren't disadvantaged could be a good way of making it fair..

[@nazmulislamsanim786]

UCI believes that,'Perfect is not always good.'

[@leeasy7112]

Cuz that’s true, u need $hit ton of money to approach perfection, and rarely teams have that kind of R&D budgets. If there were no UCI limits on techs, the richest team would’ve 100+w advantages over the poor teams just by equipment.

[@dennistay9980]

All the Malaysian GCN fans getting excited cause our country got featured 😂😂😂

[@syakiryaqzan7258]

Trueeeeee

[@artnissfar6747]

Yeahh

[@clintnieves]

Get on that Hope Lotus bike Doc and attempt your next hour of power

[@becausewin]

kerin should all have same bikes. other race types can have more flexibility.

[@oldanslo]

So this 13:56 is the exact shape of Ollie's body?

[@jeffmouton]

"Top 9 UK Track Cycling Innovations". Nevertheless very interesting video.

[@ShadmanKhan]

UCI: WOW! Cool bike! *Banned For coolness*

[@markpeacock6345]

You didn’t mention the strapping tape on the shins of the Danish riders!

[@Mattsretiring]

It makes my laugh my AO when they talk about banning a $350 running shoe because it provides an unfair advantage

[@applesapple6675]

But I think it's good to keep in mind it's a very different sport. Cycling has always been a sport which success is due to a combination of the athlete and the equipment. Running has been almost always purely athlete and the introduction of the carbon blade style shoes make the equipment very important in running now. I'm not saying whether or not it should be banned. Just that regardless of the decision it makes sense given how different the sports are.

[@jonathanzappala]

I think about not using fins in a triathlon. Aero everything to go faster, all good. Fins to go faster? Nope.

[@Mattsretiring]

@@applesapple6675 except that the UCI has a totally different idea to what you're suggesting. If it's a sport that is about having the best equipment why can't an athlete compete on a beam bike with knee high socks? Why (until recently) was there a 3:1 rule?

[@JasonTrew2018]

"Let's try to make a very fast bike that can break records"----random person "That bike is so fast it will now be banned"----UCI

[@govinddddddd]

Laptop: any sticker left? :x

[@-syahmi6924]

Malaysia 🇲🇾🇲🇾

[@TnFruit]

Olli should press "F5" instead of "p" to refresh 😁

[@richardwitt8248]

yes

[@nickyburnell]

All on the same bike. Same for TT

[@bujang3022]

The only thing that should really win the events should be the athletes themselves not because they have more money to buy better stuff.

[@theknights1512]

If they’re mostly carbon fibre, one extra benefit is that you could easily wash them so they wouldn’t stink all the time like my mtb shoes!

[@Lufftschwimmer]

you forgot Graeme Obrees bike !!!

[@ProfDrOetker]

I don't think the suits get faster, just the dopes are getting stronger.

[@ron9776]

Hidup Malaysia “WX-R”

[@haroldz123]

Pocket rocket

[@ron9776]

Tahniah Dato Jijoy no2

[@kordelwilliams5770]

Great

[@dudeonbike800]

What? Cycling isn't an arms race! IT'S A LEGS RACE!!!!!

[@KaijuAlert]

One day GCN will get the pronunciation for "Keirin" correct.